Download Complete Set of Drivers, Fixes & a Couple of Applications (SZ 120PB)

ronin.achilles · 03-27-2006, 12:30 AM

UPDATE: Please see at the bottom of the post for a newly uploaded file containing just the hot fixes and a few applications needed after a clean install

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My Clean Install Process:

[Have Edited the Installation Sequence, so Please Note]

Preparation:

1. I first went to the Sony Support Site... (change the model number on top right hand corner to your specific model)
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-...mdl=VGNSZ120PB

2. Downloaded Everything (Original Drivers + Updates)...there is a way by which you can download all at once (the download taxi utility...its cool..check out)...

3. Checked out this tutorial:

http://esupport.sony.com/EN/osmig/xpclean.html

Actually just this part of it:

"....Install the driver packages.

CAUTION: You must install the driver packages in the following order for your computer to operate normally:....."

(I have modified this list a bit based on my experience after 2 Clean Installs)

THIS WILL ALSO BE YOUR INSTALL SEQUENCE.

1. Intel® Chipset
2. Sony Control Device Driver
3. Sony Programmable I/O
4. Sony Shared Library
5. Sony Notebook Utilities
6. Video
7. Audio
8. Modem
9. Network
10. Wireless
11. WebCam (Please install the Hotfix, referred in the post below before this if you want to avoid Shutdown Freeze)
12. Memory Stick® (Check below for getting back the Memory Stick Icon)
13. Memory Stick Registry
14. UPEK TouchChip Fingerprint Coprocessor
15. Infineon® Trusted Platform Module
16. Bluetooth USB Controller
17. USB Mouse Controller
18. Protector Suite
19. Touchpad
20. Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Utility
21. SmartWi
22. BIOS Update
23. Repeat steps 2 to 5 (reinstall those drivers for your Fn and Soft Keys to work Properly)

NOTE:
FOR NEWER MODELS (MARCH 25 ONWARDS APPROX) YOU DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH STEPS 22 & 23 SINCE THE BIOS IS ALREADY UPDATED.

4. Created folders with these names (except No. 23 ofcourse:-) on my Hard Drive and numbered them in sequence (for current as well as future usage, since I would burn all these on a disc later :-)

On the Drivers page (given above), clicked each driver (Download Now button), checked the description and put them into respective folders.

5. Burn this on a CD

Actual Install:

1. Boot from CD and install new version of XP Pro (I also completely formatted my disk and partitioned it during the process...100 GB as one single partition is just too unhealthy IMO)

2. Once that is done, just start installing the drivers in the suggested sequence (above) from the CD you burnt.

Notes:
- You will have to be in Stamina Mode to install Intel Graphics Driver and in Speed mode to install NVidia Graphics Driver (other things can be installed in any mode)

Also, Intel Graphics driver on the Sony site has some problems. Pick it up from the Intel Site (http://support.intel.com/support/chi.../CS-009247.htm Intel® 945 Express Chipset Family)

- You will have to install a Hotfix for the Webcam driver otherwise your computer will freeze on Shutdown (Have included the fix in the Uploaded Files (see bottom of post))

- Memory Stick icon on the drive will not show (Have included the fix in the Uploaded Files (see bottom of post))

To install the Sony VAIO Applications (if you want, I don't find them too useful), you will need to have your recovery disc. Once you are done with the clean install, insert your Disc No. 1 and system will prompt you to install Applications and Drivers. Select 'Ok' and it will prompt you with a list of Applications and Drivers. Now just 'select' the applications you want to install (your drivers are already installed by now so you don't need to check anything there).

I only installed the following:

VAIO Power Management Utility ... also available as a standalone application at the following link:
http://rapidshare.de/files/16424637/snypm.zip.html)

VAIO HDD Protection thing ... also available as a standalone application at the following link:
http://rapidshare.de/files/16441543/snyhdp.zip.html)

(Big thanks DCP for these links).

VAIO Camera Utility and Wireless Switching Utility MIGHT (Will) NOT WORK after clean install. Download the standalone latest versions from the links provided below:

Wireless Switching Utility (Thanks KNOP)

http://www.css.ap.sony.com/vaio/down...1181800-UN.exe

VAIO Camera Utility.

ftp://ftp.vaio.sony.co.jp/pub/vaio/d...1146101-UN.exe

In place of Wireless Switching Utility, you can also use SmartWi application (my personal preference). Its a nifty application and has a great Fn+F1 functionality to switch between WLAN / BT/ WLAN+BT modes... Also take care that you turn OFF the main SmartWi application (it should not show in your system tray)... also set it to NOT turn on when Windows Starts or when you switch your wireless modes (through its 'settings'). The reason is that it is a major drain on your CPU (mine goes up to 50%)... and turning it off is not a problem coz even with the main application manager closed, the Fn+F1 functionality works, which is basically what you need.

Thats all... you will have your system up and running.
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Thats my original post in one of the threads. Having done clean install almost 4 times now (twice in my first laptop which I got exchanged and twice in this new one)... and I know what a Pain in the A$$ it is, especially finding the right drivers and those minor fixes for problems... so thought of putting this up, might help a few people with clean install...

I have uploaded the complete set of drivers for SZ 120 PB. It is in three parts (A, B & C) coz rapidshare won't allow me to upload 200 MB at once... It contains the following:

1. All Drivers (see list above)
2. Minor fixes (hotfix for shutdown freeze caused due to Webcam driver, dll file to get back Memory Stick Icon etc)
3. Couple of standalone VAIO applications that I thought was important (VAIO Power Management & VAIO HDD Protection) so you won't need the recovery disk for these.

A few of these have been provided by other forum members. A big thanks goes out to them. I just thought combining everything in one place would save people lot of trouble.

I have not included the Protector Suite as it was 220 MB in size. Please download it from Sony Support Site. Have left a link for the same in the respective folder.

Here are the download links: (Had uploaded the same on yousendit.com earlier but I guess the link there expires in 7 days or so)... so here it is...

http://rapidshare.de/files/16523064/...art_A.zip.html

http://rapidshare.de/files/16521819/...art_B.zip.html

http://rapidshare.de/files/16522469/...art_C.zip.html

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On Repeated request, I am uploading a new file which contains just the Hot Fixes and a few Applications...this is for people who have downloaded (or can download) drivers from Sony Support site and just want the hot fixes and applications that are required after a clean install...

Its just an 11 MB file and includes the following:

1. Web Cam Freeze Hotfix
2. Memory Stick Icon Hotfix
3. VAIO Hard Drive Protection Utility
4. Wireless Switch Utility
5. VAIO Camera Utility

http://rapidshare.de/files/18947885/...ation.zip.html

fangoes · 03-27-2006, 01:47 AM

thanks alot ronin with everything in one place and a good set of instructions i am now highly considering to do a clean install.

however one question is there a GREAT difference in performance

thanks

ronin.achilles · 03-27-2006, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fangoes

thanks alot ronin with everything in one place and a good set of instructions i am now highly considering to do a clean install.

however one question is there a GREAT difference in performance

thanks

The reasons I ALWAYS do a clean install on a new system...

1. Clean OS with just the things I need and hence clean registry/no useless files etc... which may/may not create problems in the future...
2. Disk Partition (40 gigs + 40 gigs + whatever remains is for the system (13 gigs approx)... coz its too risky to keep a single 100 GB partition and I really don't prefer partition magic kind of apps)

Performance wise, with a Core Duo, there really won't be a GREAT difference... I THINK!!

Frankly, its really upto how you like your lappy to be... bloated/clean/nicely maintained (I mean apps)/easy on resources to an extent only as much as necessary... I think these things help in the long run... Just a personal preference.

I know you could just uninstall the bloatware, but I hate the traces they leave behind... and 100 gigs in one partition is just too uncomfortable for me... so there you go :-) ...

fangoes · 03-27-2006, 04:16 AM

yeh i am highly considering it as i do like my notebook to be clean with apps i want and need not useless junk bloatware. just wondered if there was any direct improvement.

100 GB un-partitioned?!?

i didnt realise that it came unpartitioned, my SZ18 came witha 20GB C Drive and a 60GB D Drive so i had no need for that but if i was in ur situation i would have definitly done the same.

thanks again for the guide

FenderP · 03-27-2006, 06:47 AM

No need to partition these days unless you're doing some sort of video/audio where you have reasons. A 20GB system disk is way too small ... you can easily fill it. Since the partitions are on the same disk, you get no real performance benefit per se.

I haven't partitioned a laptop hard drive in years. If you're worried, make backups. That's what I do.

BlackG35 · 03-27-2006, 10:14 AM

thanks for the detailed guide.

rapidshare sucks though, it wont even let me download part B, until 1 hour later.

rk_cr · 03-27-2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenderP

No need to partition these days unless you're doing some sort of video/audio where you have reasons. A 20GB system disk is way too small ... you can easily fill it. Since the partitions are on the same disk, you get no real performance benefit per se.

I haven't partitioned a laptop hard drive in years. If you're worried, make backups. That's what I do.

I would disagree. If you even do one partition, you can reformat your computer without having to backup any of your data files on DVDs or external HD. The OS can die but you'll still have all your files.

FenderP · 03-27-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rk_cr

I would disagree. If you even do one partition, you can reformat your computer without having to backup any of your data files on DVDs or external HD. The OS can die but you'll still have all your files.

I've never had that problem and I even run Windows Server 2003 on laptops sometimes. If the OS dies, just take out the HD and put it in an external case so you can see the drive and attach it to another computer.

My way and your way does not protect you from drive failure, though. If the whole drive dies, no amount of partitioning will help you.

ronin.achilles · 03-27-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenderP

I've never had that problem and I even run Windows Server 2003 on laptops sometimes. If the OS dies, just take out the HD and put it in an external case so you can see the drive and attach it to another computer.

My way and your way does not protect you from drive failure, though. If the whole drive dies, no amount of partitioning will help you.

What rk_cr has said is among my prime reasons for partitionining frankly... now see, there are lot of files I add and remove from my hard disk on a daily/weekly basis. And its not practical to take a backup everyday (I normally backup my complete HD every 6 weeks or so)... and I have personally had experience of OS getting completely F***** up taking down all files with it.

Another reason is performance... I know with Dual Cores and stuff, performance is generally very high, but a separate system drive is something I strongly prefer. The simple reason is the way HD works where it accesses only the logical partition depending on what apps it wants to access instead of scurrying all over the place for simple things like booting my computer (if files are split all over)... so just a small containment. Atleast psychologically I feel better :-))

Besides, the size of partition is just based on personal experience...I mean, you could have 20 GB for System or 40 GB based on your past experience of apps you use. I have never ever filled up more than 8-10 GB with all the apps I need fully loaded so for me 20 GB is more than enough. I am a small business user and don't do lot of gaming or heavy duty apps.

ronin.achilles · 03-27-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fangoes

yeh i am highly considering it as i do like my notebook to be clean with apps i want and need not useless junk bloatware. just wondered if there was any direct improvement.

100 GB un-partitioned?!?

i didnt realise that it came unpartitioned, my SZ18 came witha 20GB C Drive and a 60GB D Drive so i had no need for that but if i was in ur situation i would have definitly done the same.

thanks again for the guide

If your disk was already partitioned, I would suggest just uninstall all the apps you don't need, clean up the program files folder of useless files and also your registry with any registry cleaning tool (take a backup of registry before that though). I would really not suggest you do a clean install. But you can always download these files and keep it in case you need it anytime in the future.